2 Air Motor Roads

2 AIR MOTOR ROADS

May be Built Terminating at Ann Arbor.

NEW YORK AND CHICAGO

Lines Being Equipped with Compressed Air Motors

If the New Power Proves Successful and Economical, the Lines Which Have Been Awaiting Its Development Will be Built.

The New York Evening Post of Saturday says: "This morning a statement was authorized that a general consolidation of the various air power interests is in contemplation and that the American Air Power Co., of this city, will practically absorb all the other concerns. The W. C. Whitney syndicate has just secured control of the American Air Power Co. Upon the report of President Vreeland, of the Metropolitan Railroad Co., in regard to the efficiency of the air power cars on the Twenty-third st. line, which have been in operation during the last four months, it has been decided to equip immediately all the downtown crosstown lines with air as a motive power, and also the belt lines, where it is impossible to install a conduit for an underground circuit. The Whitney syndicate, which control the north and west side Chicago lines, is now having plans prepared and contract drawn to equip the lines at present operated by cable in Chicago, with the Hadley-Knight compressed air system. The American Air Power Co., it is said, have secured also from the International Power Co., of Providence, the right to use the latters' plant in the manufacture of automobiles."

This is important news in this section, where so many railway projects have been held back awaiting the development of compressed air as a motive power for street cars. If the experience of the New York and Chicago lines indicate that this power is feasible and economical, two lines from this city will be at once constructed ; one to Jackson by way of Dexter and Chelsea and the other to Detroit through Superior and Plymouth. One thing which has kept these lines from being built this summer is the high price of copper wire, together with the advance in iron. With the new power, the pules and overhead fixtures will be done away with so that the cost of constructing long lines of street railways will be materially reduced. The promoters of the new lines did not desire to take any chances equipping expensive lines with electricity which might in a year be rendered an obsolete power.